The Lister Hospital
Chelsea Bridge Road, SW1W 8RH London
Allergy
Tests and treatment for allergies and asthma
Our consultant allergists are leaders in their field, offering diagnosis and treatment of allergies and asthma for both adults and children.
Do I have an allergy?
An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a normally harmless substance, such as foods, pollen, cats or dust. This is known as an allergen. The body's immune system treats the allergen as an invader and reacts, resulting in allergy symptoms that can be anywhere from annoying to harmful. Symptoms could includes sneezes and itches, rashes, falls in blood pressure and airway narrowing, which leads to difficulty breathing. Over 18 million people in the UK have an allergy. Our consultant allergists test, diagnose and create treatment plans for many common allergies, including asthma, hay fever and allergic rhinitis, food allergies, reactions to medication, skin allergies, severe reactions to insect stings and more.
Health Fact vs Fiction - Why am I allergic?
In episode 14 of HCA Healthcare UK’s Health Fact vs Fiction podcast, host Anna Richardson chats with Dr Helen Brough from HCA UK’s The Portland Hospital.
They discuss the causes of allergies such as asthma, hay fever and food allergies, and why it's the most common chronic disease in Europe.
Our expertise in allergy testing
We have a comprehensive team of consultant allergists for both adults and paediatrics, together with access to up-to-date diagnostic allergy tests.
Need to know
Asthma is a common condition that causes lung inflammation and makes it difficult to breathe. This inflammation is sometimes caused by allergies or overly sensitive airways. A bronchial challenge test ‘challenges’ your airways by asking you to inhale doses of a powder and then measures your lungs' reaction.
A skin prick test is usually the first test to be carried out when looking for an allergen.A skin prick test is a quick, painless and effective way of testing for common allergens which are eaten or inhaled
A food challenge is considered the 'gold standard' diagnostic test for food allergies. It is the only true way of knowing whether your child will have an allergic reaction to a food. These tests are also useful to check whether a child has outgrown their allergy to a certain food or medicine.
Our Allergy locations
The Portland Hospital
205-209 Great Portland Street W1W 5AH London
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Shard Outpatients
The Shard, 32 St Thomas Street SE1 9BS London
Elstree Waterfront Outpatients
Beaufort House WD6 3BS Elstree
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.